Craft deliberate homicide trial postponed; new witness comes forward

Great Falls Police Department apprehends suspect in Friday morning multi-car pileup on south side of Great Falls.
Traci Rosenbaum, trosenbaum@greatfallstribune.com

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Law enforcement investigators walked the property at 5029 66th Ave. S.W. on Aug. 17, 2016, as they investigated the death of Adam Petzack who was reported missing earlier this year. Brandon Lee Craft, a former resident at the at the address, is accused of killing Petzack and burying his body on the property.(Photo: TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS)Buy Photo

An emergency hearing was called at 8 a.m. Thursday morning to address the issue. Attorney Vince van der Hagen, who also represents the new witness, will withdraw as counsel for both men.

Brandon Craft(Photo: Courtesy)

Craft is charged with deliberate homicide, evidence tampering and exploitation of an older person, incapacitated person or person with developmental disability, all felonies.

Court documents say Petzack was a veteran on full disability because of a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

According to court records, detectives with the Great Falls Police Department were investigating Craft for suspicious financial activity involving Petzack’s VA benefits. Documents indicate Petzack lived in a rental unit on Craft’s property in Great Falls.

Craft told the detectives he found Petzack in the Craft family’s trailer in the middle of the night, according to court records.

Craft told the detectives Petzack was masturbating, and he told Petzack to go back to the outbuilding where he lived. Craft said Petzack complied, the report says, but Craft noticed his young daughter was lying in bed naked.

Craft told the detectives he “lost it” and grabbed his .22 rifle and went outside. The report says Craft admitted to shooting Petzack in the back of the head and burying him in the “barn” on his property.

Craft’s trial was scheduled for the week of Nov. 5. There will be another hearing in the next week or two to set a new trial date.